Posters

The role of atopic disease in the progression of keratoconus

Poster Details

First Author: A.Moleiro PORTUGAL

Co Author(s):    M. Antão   L. Torrão   R. Moreira   J. Pinheiro-Costa   F. Falcão-Reis        

Abstract Details

Purpose:

To study the influence of atopic conditions in the progression of corneal ectasia in keratoconus patients.

Setting:

Department of Ophthalmology, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de São João, Porto, Portugal

Methods:

Retrospective study of 56 eyes of 56 patients with Keratoconus, aged from 14 to 30 years old. Ectasia progression was evaluated between two scans separated by 12±3 months, using the tomographic variables Kmax, Km, K2, PachyMin, D-index, PCR and Corneal Astigmatism. Data regarding atopy and eye rubbing habits were collected from patients’ clinical records.

Results:

The prevalences of atopy and eye rubbing habits were 60.7% and 76.8%, respectively. A significant association was found between atopy and eye rubbing (p=0.007), suggesting atopic patients have more tendency to rub their eyes. No significant difference was found in the variation of the tomographic indices Kmax, Km, K1, K2, PachyMin, D-index, PCR and Astig between the two scans, when comparing the atopic and non-atopic groups (p=0.821, p=0.759, p=0.794, p=0.883, p=0.969, p=0.747, p=0.442 and p=0.720, respectively). There were no significant associations between ectasia progression and atopy, eye rubbing, rhinitis, asthma and atopic dermatitis (p=0.300, p=0.573, p=0.765, p=0.071 and p=1.000, respectively).

Conclusions:

Despite the lack of difference in ectasia progression found between KC patients with and without atopy, an effective control of atopic conditions should be done in order to reduce eye rubbing, a well-stablished risk factor for Keratoconus.

Financial Disclosure:

None